Henning Ott
Kremlin hopes for an early meeting between Putin and US special envoy Witkoff
The Kremlin is hoping for an early meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Russia to discuss the Ukraine peace process. Witkoff could inform Putin about the positions of Ukraine and the Europeans, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Witkoff is expected in Oslo for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj as well as representatives of the European E4 group (Germany, France, Great Britain and Poland), the EU and NATO. According to US media, a meeting between Witkoff and Putin could take place on Wednesday in Saint Petersburg.
Anna Lena Stahl
Ukraine reports deaths in attacks on Bucha and other places
Russian missile and drone attacks in the area around Kiev have killed at least four people, police said. A further 27 were injured, including children, the police said on Tuesday. The power went out in parts of the Odessa region after attacks, said the head of the local military administration Oleh Kiper.
According to police, three people were killed and six injured in the Obukhiv district south of Kiev. Warehouses were also damaged. In the Butscha district, a woman died and 21 people were injured, including eight children. Police reported hundreds of buildings damaged.
Lara Dehari
Dispute over North Korean prisoners – South Korea withdraws some of its embassy staff
South Korea is withdrawing more embassy staff from Ukraine over a dispute over North Korean prisoners of war. The Foreign Ministry in Seoul accuses the government in Kyiv of a lack of willingness to cooperate. The background is the statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj to the United Nations that Ukraine had handed over two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul sees this as a violation of a confidentiality agreement to protect soldiers and their families in North Korea.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Dusun in Seoul did not say how many employees would be withdrawn. The chargé d'affaires and key staff would remain in Kyiv, he added. South Korea has submitted its demands, is maintaining contact and is looking for an amicable solution. “Now it is up to the Ukrainian side to respond or take appropriate steps,” Park said.
Lara Dehari
Finland's President Stubb says he is meeting Zelensky in Norway
Finland's President Alexander Stubb said he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Störe in Norway on Tuesday. The talks will be about the war in Ukraine, says Stubb.
Sabrina Frangos
Trump: We gave Ukraine a lot - and they gave us nothing
US President Donald Trump has accused Ukraine of not offering anything in return for US support. "We gave a lot to Ukraine - they gave us nothing. Don't forget that," he said in Washington. Meanwhile, the Axios portal reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky complained that Washington was holding back arms deliveries.
He is said to have made the accusation at a virtual meeting with US senators from both parties. According to Zelensky, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth did not approve the delivery of Patriot and other air defense missiles, even though NATO countries had already paid for them, Axios reported, citing a transcript of the meeting. “All of this suggests that a political decision has been made to reduce support for us,” said Zelensky.
Sabrina Frangos
Insider: Trump envoys travel to Norway for Ukraine talks
According to insiders, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are traveling to Norway this week for a new round of negotiations on an end to the war in Ukraine, according to insiders. Two of the three people familiar with the matter said they also expected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to attend. However, the schedule is provisional and could still change. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The talks come against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Washington and Kyiv. Ukraine accuses the US government of slowing down the speed of its Starshield military satellite system, restricting the exchange of intelligence information and delaying the delivery of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles. “All of this suggests that a political decision has been made to slow down support for us,” Zelensky said in a video message released on Monday. Trump, for his part, accused Zelensky of refusing to hold peace talks with Russia. The Ukrainian leader should perhaps “let someone else negotiate,” Trump said on Monday.
Sabrina Frangos
Vitali Klitschko: We will never surrender
Kiev's mayor Vitali Klitschko has made an urgent appeal for solidarity in Europe in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. "We never want war in Europe again. Peace needs our shared responsibility. Freedom needs people who stand up for each other," said Klitschko (55) in a video message at an awards ceremony in Berlin.
He said he originally planned to accept his award, the European Future Award, in person in Berlin. But the situation in Kiev had deteriorated dramatically, so he had to stay there. Ukraine has been defending itself against a large-scale Russian invasion with Western help for more than four and a half years.
Sabrina Frangos
Zelensky: US decisions in the war “difficult to explain”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj criticizes US decisions in the war against Russia. Delays in arms deliveries and restrictions on the exchange of intelligence information are “difficult to explain among friends,” he said at a meeting with a US congressional delegation. In a video on Telegram he also complains about the lack of explanations for the restricted use of the Starshield satellite network. In addition, Ukraine has not received any warnings about Russian attacks from its partners three times recently. The Pentagon is also delaying the delivery of missiles that have already been paid for. “All of this suggests that a political decision has been made to reduce support for us,” Zelensky said.
Sabrina Frangos
Trump: Zelensky should leave negotiations to others
According to US President Donald Trump, someone else should lead the peace negotiations with Russia instead of Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky. “Maybe it’s time for Zelensky to let someone else negotiate,” Trump told reporters. In October he called for the Ukrainian head of state to be replaced. Russia is behaving “okay” with regard to Ukraine and is “not doing much,” Trump adds. The US continued to provide intelligence information to the government in Kyiv.
Julie Leduc
Bulgaria: Arrest warrant against two Germans for arson of Starlink antennas
A Bulgarian court approves the issuance of a European arrest warrant against two German citizens. They are accused of setting fire to SpaceX's Starlink antennas near Sofia, the court told Reuters. According to prosecutors, the two entered Bulgaria from Serbia on October 9 and set fire to the antennas on the site of the Plana teleport facility south of the capital before returning. If convicted, they could face three to twelve years in prison, according to the state news agency BTA. Ukraine uses Starlink terminals extensively. Other countries blame saboteurs with ties to Russia for similar arson attacks. The government in Moscow rejects such allegations as unfounded and the result of anti-Russian hysteria.
Henning Ott
Rubio: There was no interruption in information sharing with Ukraine
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected allegations from Ukraine about withheld information. “There was no interruption,” he told reporters in Uzbekistan, expressing irritation at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelenskyj complained today that his country's partners had once again not been warned about Russian attacks. Rubio appeared ignorant of this. At the same time, he said that “a few nights ago there was a software problem” with the Ukrainian early warning system.
However, the Ukrainian Air Force toned down Zelensky's criticism shortly afterwards. Air force spokesman Jurij Ihnat said on local news television that there was no timely warning of the first wave of ballistic missiles that night. Accordingly, there was information from the allies before the second wave of attacks. This has already been the case several times.
Alisa Svoboda
Kyiv: Summit between USA, Russia and China would prolong war
A summit between Russia, China and the US would encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to prolong the war, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. Instead, Kiev is relying on a trilateral meeting with the USA and Russia to end the war through diplomatic channels.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Putin is proposing a summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. The Russian president wants to negotiate an end to the war on terms that favor Moscow.
Henning Ott
Lithuania wants to better protect critical infrastructure
According to its Prime Minister, Lithuania is strengthening security precautions on critical infrastructure. The trigger was an attempted arson attack on a Starlink base station on the outskirts of the capital Vilnius. Authorities are treating the incident as an act of sabotage linked to Russia.
Alisa Svoboda
Zelenskyj: No early warning of new attacks
After renewed Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky complained that he had once again not been warned by his country's partners. Just the day before, Zelensky had stated in an interview that Washington was now sharing intelligence findings with Kiev again. For a while there was no early warning data for ballistic missile launches.
Russia has again attacked energy facilities and infrastructure in several regions across the country, Zelenskyj wrote on social media. At least 550,000 families are without electricity. Moscow used 16 ballistic missiles in an attack on the capital Kiev and its surrounding areas. Other regions were also attacked with more than 200 drones. Zelenskyj spoke of victims. According to authorities, at least one 21-year-old was killed in Kyiv. Eight other people were injured.
Alisa Svoboda
Russian Finance Minister promoted to Deputy Prime Minister
According to agency reports, a government reshuffle is pending in Russia. President Vladimir Putin has approved the measure proposed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, news agencies report, citing the Kremlin.
The core of the comparatively small government reshuffle in Russia is the promotion of Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. In addition to the office he has held since 2011, he will also be one of several deputy prime ministers. The Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin has approved the personnel officially proposed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Russia is currently looking for new sources of income in the face of a rising budget deficit. The cabinet reshuffle follows parliamentary elections in September, in which new State Duma deputies were elected.
Alisa Svoboda
Russia: Freighter with military cargo attacked near Odessa
Russia says it has attacked another ship in the Black Sea. The Defense Ministry said the attack targeted a freighter with military supplies on board. The ship was located southwest of the port city of Odessa.
Alisa Svoboda
Russia reports serious attack on Kyiv
According to the government in Moscow, Russian armed forces have carried out a serious attack on targets in Kiev and the surrounding area of the Ukrainian capital. The Defense Ministry said the attacks were directed against military-industrial facilities, storage facilities for cruise missiles and drones, and data centers.
Angelika Ahrens
Sheet: Putin suggests Trump and Xi Ukraine summit
According to a newspaper report, Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently proposed a summit meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the four-year war in Ukraine in favor of Moscow. The meeting should take place next month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday (local time), citing a former Russian intelligence officer. The proposal goes back to a phone call between Putin and Trump on October 9th. During the conversation, an agreement was also reached that the USA should buy Russian diesel and facilitate its sale on the world market.
Angelika Ahrens
Trump: I want to keep Moscow at the negotiating table
US President Donald Trump justifies the suspension of sanctions against Russia by saying that he wants to keep Russia at the negotiating table. “My decision is a very simple one,” Trump writes on his Truth Social platform. “I am in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine and do not want to do anything that would foolishly drive Russia away from the negotiating table.” On Friday, Trump justified the suspension of sanctions with US national security interests. Analysts said the sanctions could have pushed up fuel prices in the US ahead of the US midterm elections in early November, scaring off potential voters from Trump's Republican Party.
Judith Henke
Rubio defends suspension of new sanctions against Russia
The controversial decision by US President Donald Trump to indefinitely suspend an already passed legislative package with new sanctions against Russia has se
